Don't Let Him In

by Elora Reed

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐊𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭.

When Tatum's car slides off the road and into a ditch, she's forced to walk the rest of the way to the haunted trail her boyfriend works.
The last thing she expects is to find him with another girl.
Devastated and stranded deep in the woods with nowhere else to go, she stays, caught on the verge of a confrontation that quickly turns into something far darker.
But that's not even the worst problem.
Because the person who steps forward to help her may be the one she should fear most.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: This psychological horror novella contains dark themes, emotional distress, violence, morally unsettling characters, and a brief instance of animal harm. This is not a romance and does not have a happily ever after.

97 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2026

About the author

Elora Reed lives in southeastern Michigan with her husband of nine years, two kids, and a steady dependency on sushi and strong coffee. When she’s not knee-deep in laundry or scrubbing syrup off tiny hands, she’s writing emotionally charged romance that dares to blur the line between love and obsession. Her stories dig into the raw, uncomfortable truths of connection. They leave readers wide-eyed, conflicted, and aching in the best way. Elora writes for those who crave messy dynamics, blurred lines, and love stories that don’t just cross the line. They erase it entirely.

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Tatum just can't catch a break. First, her car slides off the road. Then she heads to the haunted trail where her boyfriend works, figuring he'll come to the rescue. She finds him all right, but he's busier than a cat covering up on a tile floor, auditioning for , boyfriend of the year, in all the wrong ways. Yep he is with another woman.

Heartbroken, Tatum takes off running, tumbles down a short cliff, and is helped up by a guy named Manson. Now, call me old fashioned, but when someone gives you the heebie jeebies right from the start, there's usually a snake in the grass. The vibe rolling off Manson has Tatum's stomach tied up tighter than a knot.

Is Manson a serial killer, or is he the good Samaritan he claims to be? Well, you'll have to read it to find out.

I had a good time with this one. I figured out where the story was headed pretty early, but even knowing which way the wind was blowing didn't take away the fun. It was an entertaining, suspenseful read.

Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review

[Elora Reed]

COVER REVEAL & PRE-ORDER

I’m so excited to finally share the cover, blurb, and release date for my next book, 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐇𝐢𝐦 𝐈𝐧.

This eerie, emotionally haunting novella has been in the works for a long time and became such a fun deviation from the rockstar stories I've been working on lately. Perfect for Halloween season!

📖 Releases September 3rd
🖤 Pre-order now: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GMDRYMQ8
📚 Add to your TBR today

What to expect:
⋆ Psychological Horror
⋆ Paranormal Elements
⋆ Ghostly / Atmospheric
⋆ Obsession & Loneliness
⋆ Haunting Woods Setting
⋆ Betrayal & Grief
⋆ No HEA

BLURB

From the author of Bound to a Killer comes a haunting novella about a girl lost in the woods and the ghost who finds her first.

When Tatum's car slides off the road and into a ditch, she's forced to walk the rest of the way to the haunted trail where her boyfriend works.

The last thing she expects is to find him with another girl.

Devastated and stranded deep in the woods with nowhere else to go, she stays, caught on the verge of a confrontation that quickly turns into something far darker.

But that's not even her worst problem.

Because the person who steps forward to help her may be the one she should fear most.

CONTENT NOTE: This story includes unsettling themes and a brief instance of animal harm. Please read responsibly.


💌 ARC sign-ups are open at the end of July. Applications can be found here: https://linktr.ee/authorelorareed


xo,
Elora

[Kenia Coronado · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️—- i am not entirely sure. I did enjoy the story but i was confused at times. I figured out the ending pretty quickly given the circumstances. I might have to go back and reread to see if i missed something because i was left a little confused.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first work by Elora that I have read. As soon as I saw the cover page and the title of the novella, I immediately chose it as my next read. I must admit that I was expecting something completely different and I did not expect this. The story has a perfect rhythm and everything happens quickly enough but not too quickly so that you can get to know the characters in the story and there is no superficiality. The story is also long enough but without boring parts and everything is nicely composed in these 100 pages.

Tatum had an accident on the way to her boyfriend. After getting out of the ditch, she went to him but found him with another girl. Then she comes across Manson who offers her help. But soon that help turns into something terrible.

Unfortunately, the ending itself lost its point for me. It went in a direction that I must admit I did not understand or expect. It rarely happens to me that I do not understand the ending and although parts of the story were confusing, the ending itself did not make sense to me at all. All in all, the novella itself was okay, but it simply lacked a little more explanation.

[Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll admit, the title and cover of this book immediately drew me in. It's a novella that sounded extremely promising. Gore, horror, haunted house...need I say more...

First the good. The plot premise was terrific. The author's vision (had it been better executed) had the potential to be five stars. Loved the concept. Loved the twists.

Now the parts that didn't work for me. The writing!!! Oh geeze. The book consisted primarily of flowery descriptions that were emotionless and added nothing to the story. About midway through, I started skimming to get to the dialogue and plot development, which was probably only about ten percent of the book. In other words, most of the prose could've been edited out.

Sadly, the atmosphere was not scary in the least. It felt incredibly dramatic, as though I was reading a Harlequin romance. At one point I wondered if I'd accidentally requested a dark romance novel. But no...it was just the cheese.

It completely lacked character development. I didn't know a thing about any of the characters. Nor did I care. Very one note to the point of caricature.

Sadly, not a horror I would recommend to others. Thank goodness it was short. I received an ARC from Booksirens in exchange for an honest review.

[Caitlin Stucky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Book Sirens for this digital arc!

This is a short, fast paced novella. I felt like I could picture the scenes so well but I felt confused about the actual story and plot. I read this quickly, but I honestly couldn’t tell you what the plot of this story was.

[Tamika Lynes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ ARC REVIEW.
I very much enjoyed the premise of this book, and had it been longer (not a novella) then I think things could have been wrapped up a bit neater and more detail could have been given. But as a short story, I enjoyed very much, definitely worth the read as a palette cleanser! ✨

[Emilee - The Booked Baddie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Should have DNFd. Delusion took over once again and I hoped it would get better. I read it in an hour and half but was confused 90% of the time and I feel like the detailed descriptions of the setting took away from the actual story. The potential was there but it was a no from me dawg.

[Marissa Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning hooked me but I felt like I missed something. I wanted more and I was also very confused at the end. Like what did I just read.

[Fay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite being a short story, I thought the author did really well and I was kept engaged until the very end. There were moments where I wondered what exactly happened to Stacy, but since the story is told through Tatum’s POV, we only know as much as she does. The past is never completely spelled out, but little details like the ropes, the ring, and tiny things Manson slips out give you pieces to work with. I personally liked putting those pieces together, even if I was left with questions by the end. It gave the book a claustrophobic, uneasy dread and I really felt like I stepped into Tatum’s shoes.

It also gave me a lot to think about as well. Like how many of us are actually afraid of literal monsters and ghosts? Manson is technically a ghost, but that isn’t what makes him scary. It’s that he’s initially kind and caring. Misunderstood even, which makes many of us naturally want to “fix” him or root for him as a reader. I thought it was an interesting spin on the “nice guy” trope that’s been especially popular this year with movies like Obsession. If you’re expecting a fleshed out horror romance, this probably isn’t for you. But if you want a short psychological page turner, I’d recommend giving this one a try.

Edit: I’ll be bumping up my score to 5 stars solely for the fact that I can’t seem to get into any other spooky read after this one. I keep replying the story in my head and in a day and age where it’s hard for me to get into anything, I think that’s valuable. Five ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[tay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a 3.75 ONLY BECAUSE, there was so many times I was confused and just felt like the story line needed more.

BUT, this was my first Elora Reed and won’t be my last, it was good, I liked the direction the story was going in but I felt like it ended too abruptly, and we needed MORE.

So, in my eyes, this technically is a 4 star rating because I loved the writing and the story line but wanted more 👀

[yue · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be completely honest, I don't know how to rate this book. There are parts of the story I liked, and there are parts where I was so confused about what was happening, both in a good way and in a little bit of a bad way.

The setup here is already the kind of scenario that makes your stomach drop. Tatum's car goes into a ditch, she's stranded, and she makes her way to the haunted trail where her boyfriend works, only to find him with another girl. That alone would be enough of a gut punch for most stories. But Elora Reed doesn't let it stay there. The situation spirals into something much darker, and that shift happens fast. The novella format works well for this because there's no filler or unnecessary padding. It moves.

What makes the scene genuinely creepy is the person who shows up to help Tatum. On the surface, it reads like he's a good Samaritan who gave her mercy, someone stepping in when she's stranded and emotionally wrecked. But that unease builds quietly, and by the time you're questioning him the same way Tatum should be, the story has already done its job.

That said, I did get confused in the middle section. Something happens there that threw me off and made me have to reorient myself to what was going on. I can't get into specifics without spoiling it, but it's the kind of narrative shift that either clicks into place immediately or leaves you rereading a few pages trying to catch up. For me, it was the latter, at least initially.

It didn't ruin my enjoyment, though. Whenever I got confused, I would usually get the answer in the next few pages, which somehow helped me follow the story. It's hard to believe that this book doesn't feel incomplete despite being under 100 pages. There is actually a lot packed into such a short novella, and the pacing keeps things moving.

However, what really threw me off was the ending.

We were already done with the story, and then the last chapter just opened a whole new can of worms. I think there are two ways to view the ending. If this book is part of a bigger series, then I think it's a stellar way to end it. It leaves you with questions and definitely makes you curious about what could happen next. But if this novella is meant to stand on its own, I don't think that ending was really needed.

For me, it felt a little forced, like another twist was being added just for the sake of having one. It also felt like something readers probably won't catch right away, which made me question whether it was supposed to be a major reveal or simply a setup for something else.

Still, I gave this four stars because when it works, it really works. The atmosphere is thick, the betrayal at the heart of the story hits hard, and the creepy elements genuinely worked for me. Despite getting confused in some parts and not being completely sold on the ending, I still enjoyed the story overall.

If you're in the mood for something short and dark that leans into psychological dread without overstaying its welcome, this is worth your time.

A huge thank you to Elora Reed and BookSirens for trusting me with an advance review copy of Don't Let Him In. Every thought and opinion shared in this review is completely honest and my own.

[ame · Rating 3 out of 5]

There’s something really eerie about “Don’t Let Him In”. Not because it’s scary per se, but because it creates a feeling where you can’t quite put your finger on what’s wrong, but deep down you just know that something isn’t right.

The story follows Tatum, who probably has one of the unluckiest days ever. While driving to her boyfriend’s job, she crashes into a ditch, and if that wasn’t enough, she also discovers that he’s cheating on her, but that’s not even the worst part, because everything just keeps getting worse and worse for her.

One of my favorite things about the book was definitely the atmosphere. The setting is really eerie in itself (I mean creepy woods? a haunted trail? sounds amazing, right?), and I also liked how you slowly start to realize that something is just not right. It’s also a novella, so it’s short enough to finish in one sitting, which makes it perfect if you’re looking for something quick to fly through.

I also appreciated the extra details that were included in the book. There’s a character art at the beginning, which imo was a really nice touch, and there’s even a playlist at the end as well. I love when authors include little things like these, because it makes the reading experience better and takes it all to the next level.

With that being said, unfortunately I had a few issues. I’ll be honest, when I started reading the prologue, I genuinely thought I somehow started the wrong book. It was about Stacy and Manson, and while Manson is present in the main story, we never really get to know Stacy’s storyline. There are a few clues scattered throughout the book that gives you an idea of what might have happened, but they were not enough to give you the full picture or confirm your theories.

If I understood correctly, the author mentions that if you subscribe to their newsletter, you can get additional content revealing what happened between Stacy and Manson. And while I can appreciate the concept of bonus content, I personally found this a little frustrating because I don’t feel like I should have to subscribe to a newsletter just to get something that feels like an important piece to the story.

I also wish that the book had been a little bit longer. Of course, it’s a novella, so there’s only so much room for character development, etc., but I think Tatum in particular could have benefited from it being a little longer. I understood why she reacted the way she did, she was obviously terrified, but I still found her a little too passive for a main character. I would’ve loved to see a bit more personality and a little more fight from her.

Overall, I have mixed feelings about the book. I really liked the atmosphere, but at the same time, I wanted more from the characters and the story itself.

However, if you’re looking for something short and unsettling, or a book that’s perfect for a rainy autumn day, I think you should give it a chance! Just go into it knowing that it’s more atmospheric than outright terrifying.

ARC received from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Maria Hussain · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗲?”
“𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱.”

This book was SO twisted, but in the best possible way. When I first started reading, I was already thinking, “Okayyy, this is twisted,” and then Elora was basically like, *hold my beer* because the plot twists just kept coming. And trust me, they messed with my mind.

“𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿,”

Tatum is on her way to meet her boyfriend when she suddenly gets into an accident. When she goes looking for him afterward, she finds him with another girl and from there, things just get crazier.

“𝗜’𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻.”

And Manson, this man was such an enigma. There’s only one chapter from his POV, so I didn’t get to know nearly as much about him as I wanted to. He’s a ghost who died in 1971, and the whole mystery surrounding him had me so intrigued. I needed MORE.

“𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘄 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱. 𝗧𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁. 𝗜𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝗱.”

My only complaint is that this book was way too short. There are only about 8 chapters, and I was genuinely sitting there like THAT’S IT??? I wanted more Tatum and Manson, more of their story, and honestly just more of everything.

“𝗡𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻.”

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you’re in the mood for something twisted, unpredictable, and the kind of story that keeps you on the edge of your seat, definitely give this one a try. Just be prepared because Elora is going to have you questioning EVERYTHING.
...

[SilverBear Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

"Long grooves gouged through the dust-coated floorboards run beside the ropes, jagged and eerily deliberate, like someone had clawed at the wood, trying to escape." - Elora Reed, Don't Let Him In.

'Don't Let Him In' is a Psychological Horror filled with tone, atmosphere and mystery. I was gripped from start to finish (I read the entire book in one sitting), watching as our protagonist Tatum is thrust from one situation to another, her sanity slowly unravelling as she learns that nothing is as it seems.

This book struck the perfect balance between a dark, almost Gothic tone and the modern horror aesthetic of something like the Netflix series 'You'. The traditional elements of the Thriller novel, set alongside the relatable fears that every woman has of being trapped alone with a strange man and not quite knowing his intention. Describing this book to my wife, she described it as her worst nightmare come to life.

Even as a 36 year old man, I was able to feel the dread fill me as I embodied this young woman trapped and trying to figure out what was happening around her.

I perhaps could have done with some more exploration of certain relationships within the story, but this is a minor critique in what was otherwise a dark, gripping read.

Worthy buying a Hardcover, a would be a great Halloween read. 4 Stars.

SilverBear.

[Apennyforjthoughts · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am always very drawn to psychological thrillers, and the blurb caught my attention straight away.

This novella centres around Tatum, who goes into the woods to look for her boyfriend, only to find him with another girl. She seeks help from a mysterious stranger, not knowing how things would only go downhill from there, or that this stranger isn't someone she would ever imagine him to be.

I had expected a lot from what was given in the blurb, but I felt that the story was rather rushed. A lot of the writing seemed to be there simply for the sake of making it feel like a thriller. I feel that if all the painful descriptions of the surroundings and people were used to develop the story a little more, I would have been much more drawn into it.

To be very fair, the blurb does a good job of describing what the story is about. Maybe it's the beginning, the setting, or the characters, but something was just lacking, and I wasn't feeling it as much as I wanted to.

I'm actually feeling pretty sad that this has been underwhelming for me. It's like my heart prepared itself for more. More twists, more tension, more of that constant feeling of unease, but it still felt rather flat for me.

Instead, I felt like I was walking across a plain field, waiting for something to happen.

[I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving the review voluntarily.]

[Ohhheyimmandy📚🌿 · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠📚

The woods aren’t the only thing you should be afraid of 🌲

Don’t Let Him In is a short, and dark psychological horror that somehow manages to pack betrayal, isolation, creepy woods, paranormal elements, and one of extremely questionable stranger into less than 100 pages.

Tatum is already having an absolutely awful night when her car ends up in a ditch and she discovers her boyfriend with another woman. And because apparently she hasn’t suffered enough, she ends up stranded in the woods and accepts help from a stranger who immediately gives off the biggest 🚩energy. (I still don’t understand how she could possibly have trusted this man)

I really enjoyed the atmosphere throughout this novella. There is this constant feeling that something is wrong….even when you can’t quite put your finger on what it is. And the more the story unfolds, the more you start questioning who Tatum can actually trust.

It’s a quick read, but definitely one that gives off the perfect amount of unsettling, creepy vibes that you want in a thriller.

If you’re looking for something short, creepy, atmospheric, and perfect for a dark autumn night read, add this one to your TBR immediately.

Just remember… maybe don’t let him in. 👀

[Kristin Yeager · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Death Isn’t The End For Things That Haunt Us”
Don’t Let Him In by Elora Reed is a creepy, psychological twister that has you questioning everything from death to revenge to history repeating itself. While I enjoyed the themes Ms. Reed addressed in this story, I found her writing to be overly-descriptive/redundant for my liking. She’s very skilled at painting emotions; however, it felt they were painted all over the place, over & over. I think this could’ve benefitted from being a touch more succinct. And, while I understand the trials her FMC undergoes during this story are extreme, she doesn’t seem to learn or grow or develop from them. Truthfully, she just seems spineless and perhaps that’s what is supposed to be shown about that bloodline. I, also, feel like key details were focused on but never explained. In one case(ropes), that was reasonable and made things creepier; in another(ring), it just didn’t make sense because there was no previous reference. Overall, I enjoyed the eerieness of this story but would’ve liked it more focused. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jenny Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. Wow. Where do I even begin? I wasn’t expecting this kind of story from Elora Reed at all. I went in expecting another dark or forbidden romance, but I’m really glad I picked this one up. For a book that’s just under 100 pages, it packs a ton of emotion, tension, and dread. I’m no stranger to horror, but this is different than what I usually read, and in the best way! While I love my fair share of smut, I’m really glad the author didn’t try to force any in here. The atmosphere was really the focal point and it added a realistic edge that was done so beautifully. It’s actually one of the reasons I really liked Bound to a Killer and why I was so curious to read more by this author. It takes high stakes and tense moments and somehow grounds them? Like you’d expect a haunting novella about ghosts to be somewhat cheesy, but it’s not at all. Manson wasn’t a mustache twirling villain or an alpha bad boy. He was understanding, and gentle, and I found my heart melting in some moments and wanting to root for him, but that’s ultimately what made him chilling in the end.

[Carrie Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

NOTE: I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

While I enjoyed this book and the premise(!), I think the shortness of the novella didn't do it any favors. The tension and atmosphere was fantastic! I loved how I could feel the panic in the female main character as she realized what was happening to her and the situation she was in. So cool to see her in real time figure out what was happening while also dealing with the other people around.

What I didn't like was the male main character's part… I am confused as to why he was there and what his motivations were. He seemed to be a protector and guiding figure, but we, as the audience, were also pushed to not trust him, without much information as to why either way. I think if the story was a bit longer, we would be able to flesh out the story in a way that really makes the plot flow and tie up well at the end.

Very fun quick read, highly recommend, but I would have liked more! Cannot wait to see what else this author comes up with. :)

[Andreanna Q · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️

So this is a novella, I managed to finish reading it just in one day. I dive in excitedly as the blurbs totally caught my attention.

The plot is okay, and overall it does included all the tropes / things as mentioned in the blurbs - spooky vibes, thriller, some gore, ghosts..personally, the gore isn’t too much and not as intense, yet nicely added with the scene as needed. I can absolutely see where it’s going from the start, but that doesn’t really ruined the story for me.

The things that make me rated it not more than 3 stars are because I think the story could’ve been much better, maybe can get more characters growth or go into them a bit more so mostly readers won’t feel like things are hanging for the story, as well as concluded some things nicely too - like what happen to Stacy and the side chick? The ending kinda feels rushed and overall not really satisfying for the story as there are still some things hanging..

Thank you for the ARC, I leave this review honestly and voluntarily. 🖤

[Frin · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review

This was such a spooky and atmospheric read!

Don’t Let Him In had this eerie, unsettling vibe from the very beginning, and I really liked how the atmosphere kept making me feel like something was just… not right. The haunted trail, the woods, the isolation, and the mystery surrounding Manson all worked really well together and created this creepy feeling that stayed throughout the story.

I also liked how quickly the story moved. Since it’s a novella, it was an easy read and I flew through it because I genuinely wanted to know what was going to happen next.

That said, I did feel like I wanted a little more from the story. Some parts felt rushed, and I think having more room for the characters and certain events to develop would have made the whole experience even stronger. I was also left with a few questions by the end.

But overall, I really enjoyed the spooky vibes and the unsettling atmosphere. It was creepy without needing to rely entirely on jump scares, and it definitely gave me that “something is seriously wrong here” feeling.

[Faye · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ Thank you BookSirens for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a quick read at around 100 pages, and one thing I really enjoyed was the descriptive writing. It was easy to picture each scene, and I felt like the author did a great job creating an atmosphere that pulled me into the story.

That said... I finished this novella and I'm still not entirely sure what I just read.

As a psychological thriller, there were definitely moments that kept me curious enough to keep turning the pages because I wanted to see where everything was going. Unfortunately, by the end, I was left more confused than intrigued. A lot of what was happening didn't fully make sense to me, and I struggled to piece everything together. I mostly just felt lost while reading.

Overall, I appreciated the writing style, but the story itself didn't quite come together for me. I'm thankful to have been given the ARC to read and review!!

[Kristina Blose · Rating 5 out of 5]

So there are some stories that scare you while you're reading them and there are others follow you long after you've put them down.

Elora Reed does an excellent job of keeping you suspended in that uncomfortable space between knowing something is happening and having absolutely no idea what it is.

There is just something so unsettling about being given just enough information to make you suspicious but never enough to feel certain.

The tension builds quietly, almost deceptively. Nothing feels completely safe, and the deeper I got into the story, the more I felt like I was waiting for something terrible to happen.

Don’t Let Him In isn't just about what's hiding in the darkness.It's about the fear of not knowing what's hiding there in the first place.

This book was Creepy, intriguing, atmospheric, and wonderfully unsettling. This is the kind of story that makes you look twice at the darkness long after you've finished !

[Kristen (IG: books.n.snakes) · Rating 3 out of 5]

🪾𝔻𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕃𝕖𝕥 ℍ𝕚𝕞 𝕀𝕟 🪾

“𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚. 𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚.”

📖 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝗺 𝗜𝗻
✍🏼 𝗘𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗲𝗱

“𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙣𝙤𝙬,” …. “𝙉𝙤 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜.”

𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝙳𝙴𝚃𝙰𝙸𝙻𝚂
📃 𝟵𝟴 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
🗓️ 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟯, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦
💍 ᴘꜱʏᴄʜᴏʟᴏɢɪᴄᴀʟ ʜᴏʀʀᴏʀ
💍 ᴛʀᴀᴘᴘᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴏᴅꜱ
💍 ɢʜᴏꜱᴛ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴇʀᴀ
💍 ᴘᴀʀᴀɴᴏʀᴍᴀʟ
💍 ᴜɴꜱᴇᴛᴛʟɪɴɢ ᴄᴏᴍꜰᴏʀᴛ

📖 𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
𝗙𝗠𝗖: Tatum
𝗠𝗠𝗖: Manson

I enjoyed the pacing of the story, and I feel like it had great potential if it were just a tad longer. Ultimately, I felt a bit confused towards the ending. I think there needed to be a little bit more reasoning as to why Manson latched on to Tatum, aside from she looked like someone he once knew (Stacy).

All in all this was a good face paced read, I just wish it developed a tad bit more to round it off.

𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗘
📖 ᴘʜʏꜱɪᴄᴀʟ
🎧 ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ
📱 ᴇʀᴇᴀᴅ ✔️

[Tom Stanger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't Let Him In is the new novella from Elora Reed, which centres around a fateful night for our heroine, Tatum, whose trip to visit her boyfriend takes a turn for the worse.

Containing many psychological and Gothic tropes, the story is essentially one of betrayal, lost loves and acceptance, and isn't that what makes some of the best Gothic tales? Whereas the pace is much faster, being only a short book, the narrative is rich, and the characters are well developed for the scope of the book. However, I did feel they underwent a sense of disservice with such an ending, leaving so many questions (I won't spoil things for the reader), and left me feeling that if the book were longer, then many of these could have been answered and developed more, but on the whole, I enjoyed the story and the pace and look forward to reading more from the author.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into Don’t Let Him In excited by the premise, and the writing didn’t disappoint. The author has a real gift for description and several scenes felt vivid and immersive.

But it felt rushed. I wanted more time with the characters and their backstories, more space for the tension to build naturally instead of being compressed. The bones of something great are here, they just didn’t have room to fully develop.

I think this story is underselling itself as a short piece. I’d genuinely love to see it expanded into a full-length novel. Give the characters and world room to breathe, and I think this could easily be a five-star read. As it stands, it’s a well-written concept that left me wanting more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amanda Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got the pleasure of getting to ARC read this novella, and as a fan of horror, I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you’re a fan of American horror story (especially the early seasons) this book is PERFECT for you. There’s a real psychological tension between the two main characters and this work really goes above and beyond when it comes to capturing the messy mosaic of grief, longing, betrayal, love and horror. I’m super excited for whatever next project is to come! Don’t Let Him In will leave you on the edge of your seat. Deeply striking, intimate, and fast paced—fans of psychological horror with a sprinkling of yearning and obsession will find this novella the perfect next read! The writing is crisp, the dialogue is possibly the strongest part of the work, and the two main characters are unforgettable in their twisted, sick but sort of sweet bond.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

It was hard for me to come up with a rating for this. I was really looking forward to reading this novella but as I dove into it, I found myself struggling to stay interested.

The premise itself is very promising and I was hooked in the first few chapters. Somewhere along the way, I felt as if maybe the writing or the characters themselves lost my interest. The writing was good, but perhaps dragged on at some points.

The ending was clear to see, probably as a result of including the first chapter. I don’t fault the author for that though, because the first chapter is also required for context on one of the characters.

It has potential, but I think it’s just not super strong as is. I can see the author’s vision and I will definitely be open to reading more of her works on the future.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Talita Hatch · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise has a ton of potential, but it didn't deliver for me. Characters' reactions to tense, horrific, and disturbing situations felt very unrealistic which took away from the suspense and immersion. I really wanted to know how the first and final chapters connected, but the story seemed cut short as we do not get to see the aftermath. I didn't feel that there were strong motivations or developed plot that would make me enjoy this more.

It is a short read and packs a ton of well-written gore and spooky descriptions, so if you wouldn't be bothered by the things above, I would recommend this to you!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.